Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Andreas Scheuer to take part in political opening of gamescom 2020

Berlin, 15 July 2020 – Although gamescom 2020 will be held exclusively online due to the coronavirus pandemic, high-ranking political guests will participate in the event’s opening once again this year. Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Andreas Scheuer, who is responsible for public funding for the games industry and for the German Computer Games Awards, will be on hand at the digital opening along with Minister of State for Digitalisation Dorothee Bär, North Rhine-Westphalian Minister-President Armin Laschet and Mayor of the City of Cologne and Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Koelnmesse Henriette Reker. Together with Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – the German Games Industry Association, the co-organiser of gamescom, the guest politicians will discuss the challenges currently faced by games companies in Germany and inform themselves about gamescom 2020 as well as about the latest gaming trends. These include, for example, the guiding theme ‘Playing into the future’, which emphasises games’ many positive effects on society. In addition, there will be a focus on the two trends ‘New console generation’, with a view to the launch of the Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X in a few months, and ‘Games at school’, which takes up the increased use of serious games in education.

The political opening of gamescom will take place digitally and will be streamed on Friday, 28 August, at 11:00 a.m. on the content hub gamescom now.

‘In this challenging year, gamescom 2020 is sending a strong signal not only to the games world, but also to society and the political world,’ says Managing Director of game, Felix Falk. ‘While ongoing digital developments are more important than ever, games are taking on greater significance as a cultural phenomenon, economic force and technology driver. We are therefore pleased to be able to once again welcome prominent political guests, even to this purely digital gamescom, and speak with them about these topics. This year, beyond the political opening, we are also welcoming numerous further political guests, for example at the gamescom congress, the Debatt(l)e Royale and on a range of individual digital tours. Even in these unusual times, gamescom thus remains the most important platform for exchange between games and policymakers.’

About gamescom

gamescom is the world’s largest event for computer and video games, as well as Europe’s largest business platform for the games industry. Due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, gamescom 2020 is taking place in an exclusively digital format, from Thursday, 27 August, to Sunday, 30 August 2020. Accordingly, events on location in Cologne will not take place this year. gamescom is jointly organised by Koelnmesse and game – the German Games Industry Association.

game – the German Games Industry Association

We are the association of the German games industry. Our members include developers, publishers and many other games industry actors such as esports event organisers, educational establishments and service providers. As a joint organiser of gamescom, we are responsible for the world’s biggest event for computer and video games. We are an expert partner for media and for political and social institutions, and answer questions relating to market development, games culture and media literacy. Our mission is to make Germany the best games location.

Source: Gamescom